'Probably didn't have enough intent in batting' - Virat Kohli on India's indifferent show in Adelaide Test

The Indian team suffered an annihilation on the Day 3 of the first day-night Test against Australia in Adelaide to register a nightmarish defeat against the host by 8 wickets. The day started with India having a lead of 62 runs and the experts and fans contemplating about what would be a match-winning score for the visitors but the Indian team witnessed a historic collapse of their batting line-up.

The Men in Blue travelled the journey from 7 for 1 to 31 for 9 within a few minutes to score their lowest ever total in the purest format of the game. Needing just 90 runs for the win, Australia easily won the game within 22 overs as the opening batsman Joe Burns slammed an unbeaten 51 of 63 deliveries.

The epic collapse of the batting unit left the skipper Virat Kohli disheartened as he appeared a little dazed in the post-match presentation. Kohli blamed the batsmen for their lack of intent in the second innings and asserted that it was disappointing to play two days of good cricket to get in a position, and then, just lose it in an hour. In the second innings, no Indian batter could score runs in the double digit as Mayank Agarwal emerged as the highest run-getter with 9 runs.

“It’s very hard to put those feeling into words. We had a lead of 60-odd when we arrived. And then just collapsed. Played two days of good cricket to get in a position and then just lose it in an hour. Really hurts. Probably didn’t have enough intent in the batting today.” Kohli said after the match.

Australian Bowlers bowled similar kind of areas in the first innings as well: Virat Kohli

The Australian pacers were on a roll as they didn’t give any room to the opposition to dominate in meanwhile. The pacers Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood scripted a memorable victory for Australia as they picked 4 and 5 wickets respectively. On being asked whether the Australian bowlers did something differently, Kohli stated that they had tried to do something similar in the first innings too, but it was the mindset of the Indian team that resulted in this disaster.

“(Australian) Bowlers bowled similar kind of areas in the first innings as well, but then our mindset was to get runs. There were some good balls. But I don’t think it did anything drastic. Just the atmosphere was created where runs were difficult to come by. I think it was a combination of both – lack of intent, and bowlers bowling in good areas,” he said.